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Oneida softball blanks Whitesboro behind Marshall’s 2-hitter

Oneida's Summer Lancette (1) makes a catch for the second out in the first inning of play against Whitesboro on Thursday, May 1, 2014 in Oneida.
JOHN HAEGER - ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH @ONEIDAPHOTO ON TWITTER

Oneida's Ashley Marshall (12) winds up to deliver a pitch to a Whitesboro batter in the first inning of their game on Thursday, May 1, 2014 in Oneida.
JOHN HAEGER - ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH @ONEIDAPHOTO ON TWITTER

ONEIDA >> After suffering a season-opening loss to Whitesboro nearly a month ago, the Oneida softball team hasn’t played often but has dominated when it takes the field, outscoring opponents 55-4 over its four-game win streak.

Thursday coach Mike Curro’s squad looked to extend that streak against Whitesboro and get a little revenge in the process.

His team did just that, winning 3-0 behind a strong performance from pitcher Ashley Marshall. The senior threw all seven innings, allowing just two hits and not walking a batter.

“It feels like we played how we should have played,” said Marshall. “The defense definitely backed me up. They saved me a lot.”

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The shutout was the third straight for Oneida and fourth in its past five games.

Every player on Oneida’s defense contributed Thursday with either a putout or an assist, something Curro hadn’t seen in some time.

Emily O’Herien went 2-for-3 to lead Oneida offensively, driving in an insurance run in the fifth inning with a double and scoring another.

After Marshall retired the Whitesboro side in order in the top of the first, her offense gave her a 1-0 lead to work with. Jenna Didio hit a leadoff single against Whitesboro starter Ashley Robinson that rolled past right fielder Kali Maggiolino for a two-base error. The Oneida senior scored on a wild pitch to Lexi Skibitski for the game’s first run. Oneida looked like it would add to the lead when Morgan Sgarlata reached on an error and O’Herien followed with a single to put runners on first and second with one out. A wild pitch advanced the runners but Robinson retired the next two batters to limit the damage to one run.

Marshall made the lead stand, retiring the first eight batters she faced before surrendering a two-out single to Nicole Sergott in the top of the third. She kept Sergott from advancing past first by getting Melanie Klauser to ground out to Hannah Begay at third base, the start of six straight batters she would retire.

That changed in the top of the fifth when the visitors had their best chance to score. Lindsey Leone reached on a two-out error and Krista Rounds followed with a single. Marshall stranded the runners, getting Sergott to ground one back to the circle and throwing her out at first.

Oneida used a two-out rally of its own to give Marshall a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth. After two tough catches by Maggiolino in right field, Robinson hit Sgarlata with a pitch with two outs for the second time in the game. This time, O’Herien made her pay with an RBI double. Pinch hitter Paige Pickard followed with a slap bunt for a single and Robinson’s throw sailed up the first-base line, brining O’Herien in to give Oneida a 3-0 lead.

It would be more than enough for Marshall, who didn’t allow a baserunner over the final two innings to secure the shutout.

“Ashley’s starting to be the Ashley she was last year,” said Curro. “She’s gritty, she’s tough, she hits her spots. She’s the one with the strength to carry us in the tough situations and we believe in her.”

About the Author

Kyle Mennig, sports editor for the Oneida Dispatch, originally hails from Munnsville. Kyle graduated from Geneseo State in 2008 and covers local sporting events, focusing on area high schools. Reach the author at kmennig@oneidadispatch.com
or follow Kyle on Twitter: @DispatchKyle.